Does anyone really know

[ardi]

If I install a fast new drive, ATA 100 or 133, using an 80 conductor ribbon cable, and put my old drive, ATA 33 or 66, on the slave connector, will I get full speed out of my new drive? The MB says it supports the high speed drive, but I was told by a knowledgeable source that the system will only go as fast as the slowest drive on a cable.

To further confuse me, I don't know how to verify the speed of any drive (and I'm talking about data transfer rates, not motor revs). There must be some software that tests them, right?

TIA, ardi

[Aaron]

Correct, your new hard drive will only go at the speed of your slowest drive on the same channel.

SiSoft Sandra 2003 is a good application to benchmark your hard drive speeds, or you can use a more basic benchmark app known as hd_speed